Letters from Hawaii facts for kids

Letters from Hawaii is a special collection of 25 letters written by the famous American author Mark Twain. He wrote these letters in 1866 while he was visiting Hawaii. Twain was working as a special correspondent (which means a reporter) for a newspaper called the Sacramento Union.

These letters describe his adventures and observations during his four-month and one-day trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Back then, these islands were often called the Sandwich Islands. Even though he wrote them in 1866, these letters were not put together and published as a book until 1947. During his visit, Mark Twain explored three main islands: Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii.

Mark Twain's Hawaiian Adventure

Mark Twain's journey to Hawaii was an exciting time for him. He spent over four months exploring the islands and writing down everything he saw and experienced. His letters give us a unique look at Hawaii in the 1800s, showing its beautiful nature and the lives of its people.

Visiting Oahu

Mark Twain first arrived on the island of Oahu. This was during the time when Kamehameha IV was the king of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Twain wrote many of his letters (Letters 1 to 17) from Oahu.

While on Oahu, he did many interesting things:

• He climbed to the top of Diamond Head, which is a famous volcanic crater.
• He visited the new government building where the Kingdom of Hawaii's lawmakers met. This gave him a chance to see how the Hawaiian government worked.
• He explored the capital city and learned about the local culture and daily life.

Exploring Maui

After Oahu, Mark Twain traveled to the island of Maui. One of the most famous places he visited there was Haleakala, a huge volcano.

Interestingly, Twain did not write many detailed letters about his time on Maui. He mostly included some facts and figures, like information about sugar production on the island (in Letter 23). Even without many letters, his visit to Maui was still an important part of his Hawaiian adventure.

Discovering Hawaii Island

The last island Mark Twain explored was Hawaii, which is also known as the Big Island. He wrote Letters 18 to 25 about his experiences here.

On the Big Island, Twain visited several important places:

• He explored Kailua Kona, a beautiful coastal town.
• He saw Kealakekua Bay, a historic bay known for its natural beauty.
• One of his most memorable visits was to Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes. He was amazed by the sight of the glowing lava.

Mark Twain's letters from Hawaii offer a wonderful glimpse into the past, showing us what the islands were like over 150 years ago through the eyes of a famous writer.